Players are selected on the basis of open tryouts. Players must attend tryouts in order to be selected. The Maryland State ODP tryouts use ODP coaches and other approved evaluators to assess the players in attendance. Players are assessed on the four components that make up a soccer player; technique, tactics, fitness and athletic ability.

Players are scored throughout the duration of the tryout blocks on a scale of 1-3 (1 being the best and 3 being the least best) or any variation thereof (e.g. 1.2, 2.5 etc.) based on the individuals overall performance as a soccer player based on the four components listed above. Each assessor is asked to score each player two separate times throughout the tryout block, if possible. All of the player scores from all of the assessors are recorded, averaged and rank ordered. The master spreadsheets are updated after each tryout block. The result is a rank-ordered list containing all of the players that attended at least one tryout block.

It is the sole responsibility of all players to make an impression on assessors during the tryout process in order to be selected as a member of the Maryland State Olympic Development Program.

Based on the number of tryout participants, most age groups will have a callback tryout. In most cases, the callback selections will be announced after the second tryout. The tryout numbers along with tryout t-shirt color and player last name for all players called back will be posted on the MSYSA website at least 24 hours prior to the callback tryout. Callback tryouts will be indicated on the tryout schedule. Check the website before this tryout to see if you were selected for the callback.

Final selections will be posted on the MSYSA website shortly after the final tryout. All player selections are final.